Yankees generally don't realize how civilized Texas is. For starters: Women have the right to go topless in public anywhere. We can drink in public anywhere unless posted to the contrary (i.e. Sixth Street). Three of our cities are in the Top Ten in population--something no other state can claim. Only California has two: LA and San Jose.

And Austin is around number 14 in population. Those who think Texas is a red-neck, cowboy backwater have a lot to learn.

That said, anywhere in Texas outside of Houston and Austin you will be up to your eyeballs in Baptist and Methodist bullshit. In Austin, you will be up to your eyeballs in Socialist bullshit. And Houston is insufferable in the summer.

Off topic, I mean discussing down town Austin at night, Romy and Michelle, and Duran Duran?-- but Glenn Reynolds had this post today that I find disturbing.

You remember in WWII when Japanese solider and civilians threw themselves off cliffs in Saipan and Okanawa? Well the Japanese and the US are doing that now. Bonzai!

We all know that Japan has been racking up debt for Two Lost Decades, yet the sky has refused to fall. Borrowing costs have slithered down to 1.36pc on 10-year JGBs and under 1pc on shorter debt, though they are not as low as they were .. nota bene. This seeming defiance of gravity has emboldened the Krugmanites and Keynesian prime-pumpers to call for a repeat in the US, UK, and Europe. There lies a great danger.

Jimbino, Ill take the Houston summers over Dallas'anytime. All of our friends who have moved to Austin are insufferable. They think they are so cool. And they are, but they are a little too vocal about it.